Efficient electrolyte of N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine zinc(ii) iodide in dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract

N,N′-Bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine zinc(II) iodide (ZnLI₂) was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopies. This new Schiff base complex was, for the first time, applied as the electrolyte of a dye-sensitized solar cell. ZnLI₂ has high reductive activity and conductivity, resulting in larger IPCE and photoelectric conversion efficiency in the DSSCs. The best results were obtained in the optimized composite electrolyte E2, with a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 7.75% under 100 mW cm⁻² irradiation. This work provides a new approach for the improvement of the photoelectrochemical properties of dye-sensitized solar cells.